Owusu heads Rebels to victory over Northwood

Slough Town

Owusu (55)

Northwood

Date: Saturday, March 3rd 2012 | Competition: League | Attendance: 289

Man Of Match: Alex Brown

Match Sponsor: Alan Harding

Starting Line Up

Substitutes

Lloyd Owusu's 55th-minute diving header was enough for Slough to defeat playoff hopefuls Northwood and close the gap at the top of the league to just three points.

Slough welcomed back Danny Murphy after an absence of three and a half months due to injury, and in a very scrappy encounter at Holloways Park, chances were few and far between in the opening period. Dan Burnell’s early headed effort which came back off the bar was atypical of the early exchanges.

Burnell had a sight of goal when Owusu beat Northwood keeper James Reading to the ball, but the top scorer’s shot was well blocked.

Owusu later saw a free header from a corner easily saved by Reading, whilst Northwood could only really threaten from distance, with tricky winger Romaine Walker, impressive in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, firing a couple of yards wide on two occasions.

Walker had a much better chance early into the second half, but skied his effort from 15 yards with the goal gaping.

But ten minutes into the second period, veteran striker Owusu connected powerfully with Stuart Swift's free kick delivery and headed past Northwood goalkeeper James Reading, who got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out with Nathan Bowden-Haase ready to pounce regardless.

Slough upped the tempo significantly and had chances to kill the game off, but Burnell was well tackled as it looked briefly as if he had wriggled free of the last man.

Ollie Burgess went closest when his well-executed free kick clipped the outside of the post, and Stuart Swift fired well wide from 25 yards after a bit of trickery from makeshift right-winger Simon Sweeney, whilst the visitors could not muster another meaningful attack.

Slough started to defend deep, and the tiring Murphy was replaced late on – but the single goal was enough to secure a crucial win with the Rebels rearguard typically robust, ahead of two tough away games against Barton Rovers and St Neots Town.

Northwood: James Reading, Scott Raper (James McCluskey), Lee Grant (c), Liam Fowler, Reece Yorke, John Christian, Wayne O'Sullivan, Craig White, Oliver Hawkins, Spencer Bellotti (Jonathan Constant), Romaine Walker (Myles Stephenson). Subs not used: Sam Sharples, Mitch Swain.